We went to the heart of it all – Columbus, OH to be exact, for this week’s record store spotlight. Through the ups and downs of the record business, Columbus has always maintained a healthy record store community. A recent bloom of newer stores, Spoonful included, has only strengthened Columbus’ reputation as one of the best vinyl destinations in the Midwest. We rapped with owner, Brett Ruland about broken vinyl and the art of staying one step ahead of the game.

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1. Tell us a little about Spoonful. How did you come to open the store?

I started Spoonful Records in 2003 as a record label.. so I could help the bands that I really dug get their music pressed on vinyl. I also loved designing the album art and posters for the releases. Fast forward to 2010.. I was let go from a design job that I enjoyed for 12 years. I knew I had to do something exciting to pay the bills, so when my girlfriend Amy suggested that I open up a record store I knew she was onto something!

2. Columbus has had a great under the radar music scene for decades. Do you buy and sell a lot of local music? What are people buying and selling in general?

We are a vinyl only store… but we do make an exception for local bands and carry their CDs or even cassettes if that is what they released their music on. Lately though we’ve seen more and more local groups releasing their stuff on vinyl.

3. Do good used records regularly walk in the door or do you have to go out and find them?

Spoonful is located in the heart of Downtown Columbus and right up the street from two colleges, so we get a lot of students trading in their old vinyl for new releases and sometimes even bringing us their parent’s collections. We don’t like to rely on what comes through the door though. We are constantly searching for leads on possible collections that are available. We also have a handful of close “record scouts” that we work with to find certain records that don’t turn up as often as we would like.

4. Do you have a record that will sell/people will inquire about every time you put it on?

Two records that have been selling almost every time we play them are Jacco Gardner – Cabinet of Curiosities (Trouble in Mind) and Anonymous – Inside The Shadow (Machu Picchu).. both are incredible. The first is a future classic in our opinion and the second is a lost gem!

5. What’s the coolest/weirdest/most-prized record to come through the door that you never thought you’d see?

We purchased a mint sealed copy of one of the rarest Columbus private press records on the Owl label – Wee – You Can Fly On My Aeroplane.

6. What’s the best thing about having a record store in Columbus?

The best thing about having a record store is all of the people that walk through the door and tell us about the latest greatest things that they are listening to or searching for. We are hearing about bands sometimes before they have had much buzz on the internet. Just having a space where music lovers can connect and discuss music is fantastic.

7. Any famous people come through the store that you couldn’t believe you were selling records to?

10. What’s the weirdest/lamest/most surprising record Bob Pollard has purchased?

I don’t recall the name on the particular 7″ single that he picked up on his last visit – it was one of those indie rock things that don’t really list the band name on the cover or label. I do remember playing it for him on the store turntable and it skipped about 5 times, I asked him “Are you sure you want this one..?” and he said “Yes!”.